3 ms·

The lost standing stones of Devon are still hiding from archaeologists

20 points by okket 8y ago

w0mbat 8y ago
It's a set of standing stones like Stonehenge, but they are only 12 inches tall? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw
bambataa 8y ago
The South West seems to be full of interesting sites. Last time I was in Cornwall we went for a walk to visit a stone circle. It’s fascinating to think that people like us at one point thought it important enough to create these circles, but we have no idea why.
- theoh 8y ago
  We do know that things get built because of a desire to ratify prestige. Things like Easter Island's moai are described as "mana-works", mana being a Polynesian word adopted by anthropologists to describe notions of abstract efficacy. It's worth reading about, though the concept has lost credibility in anthropology. But, essentially, the Autobahn network is similar to these megalithic works, built out of a collective and mostly consensual desire to demonstrate/affirm the efficacy of a certain social order. The connection I'm making with totalitarianism is intentional, with no value judgement attached to that (sometimes totalitarianism happens).
contingencies 8y ago
Random unsubstantiated theory. I recall reading a book on the Celts which revealed that they actually had substantial technology before the Romans arrived. One of the innovations was a carefully operated defense network whereby shouted messages were repeated across long distances such as quiet valleys in order to distribute general news or to summons geographically disparate tribes in the event of invasion. Since Celtic culture was substantial in the area, could the sites be related to the placement of messaging centers? An intertidal zone would make sense to such a network as boats could easily arrive and depart at all times of day. Some refs: https://books.google.com/books?id=uQMMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT38&lpg=PT38&dq=celts+shout+message+network&source=bl&ots=Z0AqU-JPr2&sig=YqK4rFHvQw5_3eLAeioFPeNQgYU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjol8yb-P7bAhVqllQKHc73BTkQ6AEINzAB#v=onepage&q=celts%20shout%20message%20network&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=uQMMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT38&lpg=P... https://www.forbes.com/sites/icoengine/2018/06/06/parkingo-innovating-mobility-via-the-blockchain/#11b58afa4d58 https://www.forbes.com/sites/icoengine/2018/06/06/parkingo-i... https://www.salon.com/2013/11/03/the_celts_were_smarter_than_we_think/ https://www.salon.com/2013/11/03/the_celts_were_smarter_than... https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/11/ancient-paths-graham-robb-review https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/11/ancient-paths-... https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-ancient-paths-discovering-the-lost-map-of-celtic-europe-by-graham-robb-7cjzlqpl7wn https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-ancient-paths-discove...

20 points by okket 8y ago

It's a set of standing stones like Stonehenge, but they are only 12 inches tall? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw

bambataa 8y ago

The South West seems to be full of interesting sites. Last time I was in Cornwall we went for a walk to visit a stone circle. It’s fascinating to think that people like us at one point thought it important enough to create these circles, but we have no idea why.

theoh 8y ago
We do know that things get built because of a desire to ratify prestige. Things like Easter Island's moai are described as "mana-works", mana being a Polynesian word adopted by anthropologists to describe notions of abstract efficacy. It's worth reading about, though the concept has lost credibility in anthropology. But, essentially, the Autobahn network is similar to these megalithic works, built out of a collective and mostly consensual desire to demonstrate/affirm the efficacy of a certain social order. The connection I'm making with totalitarianism is intentional, with no value judgement attached to that (sometimes totalitarianism happens).

contingencies 8y ago

Random unsubstantiated theory. I recall reading a book on the Celts which revealed that they actually had substantial technology before the Romans arrived. One of the innovations was a carefully operated defense network whereby shouted messages were repeated across long distances such as quiet valleys in order to distribute general news or to summons geographically disparate tribes in the event of invasion. Since Celtic culture was substantial in the area, could the sites be related to the placement of messaging centers? An intertidal zone would make sense to such a network as boats could easily arrive and depart at all times of day. Some refs: https://books.google.com/books?id=uQMMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT38&lpg=PT38&dq=celts+shout+message+network&source=bl&ots=Z0AqU-JPr2&sig=YqK4rFHvQw5_3eLAeioFPeNQgYU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjol8yb-P7bAhVqllQKHc73BTkQ6AEINzAB#v=onepage&q=celts%20shout%20message%20network&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=uQMMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT38&lpg=P... https://www.forbes.com/sites/icoengine/2018/06/06/parkingo-innovating-mobility-via-the-blockchain/#11b58afa4d58 https://www.forbes.com/sites/icoengine/2018/06/06/parkingo-i... https://www.salon.com/2013/11/03/the_celts_were_smarter_than_we_think/ https://www.salon.com/2013/11/03/the_celts_were_smarter_than... https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/11/ancient-paths-graham-robb-review https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/11/ancient-paths-... https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-ancient-paths-discovering-the-lost-map-of-celtic-europe-by-graham-robb-7cjzlqpl7wn https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-ancient-paths-discove...